Q. Is there a difference between urban poor women and their rural counterparts?
13,Sep 2024
Posted By : SPM Academy
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APSC2023
GS1
Urban and rural poor women in India face distinct challenges shaped by varying socio-economic conditions and access to resources. These differences in livelihood, education, health, and social status reflect the contrasting environments and structural inequalities that define their lives.
1. Economic Opportunities and Livelihoods
Urban Poor Women: Urban poor women often have greater access to employment opportunities in the informal sector, such as domestic work, construction, and small-scale retail. However, these jobs are typically low-paying, unstable, and lack social security benefits. According to the UNDP and NITI Aayog, urban women are more likely to be engaged in wage labor than their rural counterparts but are also more vulnerable to exploitation and poor working conditions.
Rural Poor Women: Rural women primarily engage in agriculture, either as unpaid family laborers or as wage laborers. The NITI Aayog notes that 75% of rural women work in agriculture, often facing seasonal employment, low wages, and a lack of alternative livelihood opportunities. The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) data indicates that rural women are more likely to face issues related to land ownership, access to credit, and agricultural inputs, which limits their economic empowerment.
2. Access to Education and Skills Development
Urban Poor Women: Although urban poor women generally have better access to educational facilities compared to their rural counterparts, many still face barriers such as high dropout rates due to economic pressures, early marriage, and safety concerns. The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2021 shows that urban poor girls are more likely to attend school than rural girls, but the quality of education often remains poor, and access to higher education is limited.
Rural Poor Women: Rural women face greater challenges in accessing education due to inadequate infrastructure, distance to schools, and cultural norms that prioritize boys’ education. According to NITI Aayog, the female literacy rate in rural areas was 57.93% as per the 2011 Census, significantly lower than in urban areas, where it was 79.11%. This gap affects their ability to engage in skilled employment and limits their socio-economic mobility.
3. Health and Access to Healthcare
Urban Poor Women: Urban poor women often live in overcrowded slums with inadequate sanitation and healthcare facilities. While they may have closer physical access to healthcare services, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) highlights that they face barriers such as high out-of-pocket expenses, poor quality of care, and limited access to maternal and reproductive health services. Urban environments also expose them to non-communicable diseases due to lifestyle factors.
Rural Poor Women: Rural women struggle with limited access to healthcare services, long distances to health facilities, and a shortage of trained medical professionals. The NITI Aayog notes that rural areas suffer from a significant shortage of health infrastructure, including primary health centers and trained healthcare workers. This contributes to higher maternal and child mortality rates, malnutrition, and unmet needs for family planning.
4. Social and Cultural Barriers
Urban Poor Women: Urban poor women often experience greater autonomy and exposure to diverse social norms, which can lead to shifts in gender roles. However, they also face heightened risks of gender-based violence, harassment, and insecurity in public spaces. The UNDP reports that urbanization has not necessarily translated into better safety or social freedom for urban poor women, who often live in vulnerable conditions.
Rural Poor Women: In rural areas, traditional patriarchal norms are more deeply entrenched, limiting women’s mobility, decision-making power, and access to resources. NITI Aayog’s reports indicate that rural women are more likely to be bound by practices like early marriage, domestic work, and limited participation in public life. However, they may also have stronger community support networks compared to urban women.
5. Access to Basic Services and Infrastructure
Urban Poor Women: Urban poor women often face challenges related to inadequate housing, poor sanitation, and unreliable access to clean water and electricity in informal settlements. The UN-Habitat highlights that the lack of secure housing and basic services in urban slums disproportionately affects women, who are primarily responsible for household chores and caregiving.
Rural Poor Women: Rural women face similar issues but in different forms, such as the long distances to fetch water or fuel, limited access to sanitation, and lack of electricity. NITI Aayog points out that infrastructure deficits in rural areas increase the time and effort required for daily tasks, reducing the time available for income-generating activities or education.
Urban and rural poor women in India face distinct challenges: urban women deal with exploitation despite better resources, while rural women face deeper social barriers and limited infrastructure. Targeted policies aligned with SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) are essential to bridge these disparities and promote gender equality.
